Bears deny Cutler-Urlacher rift

Friday

Jay Cutler and Brian Urlacher treated their rumored rift as a joke, and a bad joke at that, when the Bears reported to Olivet Nazarene on Thursday for the start of their 2009 training camp.?

Jay Cutler and Brian Urlacher treated their rumored rift as a joke, and a bad joke at that, when the Bears reported to Olivet Nazarene on Thursday for the start of their 2009 training camp.?

Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade, now with the Vikings, told KFAN-AM in Minneapolis that Urlacher told him Cutler was a (expletive for wimp).

After Wade’s comments were aired, WSCR-AM in Chicago reported that Urlacher had to be held back by teammates from attacking Cutler once during organized team activities last month.?

“I don’t know what’s going on with all these stories about us fighting,” said Urlacher, who had a minor groin problem during OTAs. “I didn’t even practice this summer, so I don’t know how I would fight the guy if I didn’t practice.”?

Cutler said he didn’t even know about the controversy until Urlacher called him after a workout Wednesday.?

“He explained the situation and what had been reported and we both laughed about it,” Cutler said. “I don’t know how it got legs and started running a little bit.”?

Urlacher said Cutler was the one who called him.?

“It blew up so fast that everybody was kind of taken aback,” Urlacher said. “Some guys thought it really did happen, that we had a fight this summer. It’s crazy. It’s so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did.”?

Coach Lovie Smith found repeated questions about the fight rumors annoying, and told his team they were untrue.?

“We can’t spend a whole lot of time on something that isn’t true,” Smith said. “Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it’s a nonissue. I spent more time right now talking about that story than it deserves. That’s no story. You got questions about what is going on? We have a season getting ready to start here.?

“There are a lot of things we can talk about. For the last time, there was nothing to that story. You find something legitimate, you come to me then. But beyond that, let’s talk about what we’re going to do on the field this year.”?

Questions about Cutler’s maturity and leadership sprang up after he precipitated the trade out of Denver after new coach Josh McDaniels tried to replace the 26-year-old Pro Bowler with a trade attempt for Matt Cassel.

Smith, though, said Cutler has been the perfect teammate since the Bears traded for him this winter. “We judge Jay from the time we have met him,” he said.?

Smith dismissed the rumor because he said it’s false, not because the subject wasn’t important.?

“It’s important for offense, defense, special teams – everyone – to get along,” Smith said.?

Receiver Devin Hester agreed.?

“When you have a strong relationship as a team and everyone bonding together, everyone hanging out, those are the teams that end up being successful,” Hester said.?

The Bears say the Urlacher-Cutler rumor won’t affect their bond.?

“That was a stupid thing that got blown out by a guy on a rival team looking to cause some trouble,” tight end Greg Olsen said.?

“Maybe,” Urlacher said, “(Wade’s) jealous because we have a good quarterback now.?

“Jay is the leader of our team,” Urlacher added. “He’s our Pro Bowl quarterback, and he gives us the best chance to win a Super Bowl. I’m happy to have him.”?

Matt Trowbridge can be reached at (815) 987-1383 or mtrowbridge@rrstar.com.